Chapter 1572: Cao Sicong

[Unedited Chapter]

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"Here, this is for you," Wang Wei said as he teleported a small bag to her.

"What’s this?"

"My merit," Wang Wei replied. "I figured since I’ll only have access to 20% of my merit, I might as well give them to you so you can sanctify as soon as possible and protect me."

"Well, that’s nice of you," Wu Hong smiled. "But there is no need." The bag appeared in Wang Wei’s hands.

"Why not?"

"I will have the entire sect supporting me, so I don’t need any more merit," Wu Hong said. "Plus, I’m sure you will be able to buy plenty of things that can help you, even with only 20%."

"Alright," Wang Wei nodded. "Hmm? It seems I have to go."

"Did something happen?"

"The Barbarian Clan is introducing me to Cao Sicong."

"Are you plotting something again?"

"I’ll tell you later," Wang Wei said before entering the spiritual realm for a meeting. He saw a man with a large belly, dressed in a fine, yellow and black dragon robe, a small pointy mustache on his upper lip, and a patch of beard that could be grabbed with one hand.

"If it isn’t the world’s rising star?" Cao Sicong smiled as he approached Wang Wei. He held the latter by his shoulder and led him to a table in the spiritual realm. "I’ve always wanted to meet you. When my advisors report to me on the things you’ve done, I’ve always been fascinated, wondering what kind of mind is required to think like that."

Cao Sicong manifested an entire feast in the spiritual realm. "Sit down and let’s enjoy ourselves while we eat. Although the food is strictly spiritual, you can still enjoy the sublime taste."

"I heard you were a man who enjoyed himself. I hope you have a good taste bud," Wang Wei said.

"One of my greatest talents is that I always know my limitations," Cao Sicong smiled. "But one thing I’m never humbled about is food. I can say for sure you’re about to have the best meal of your life."

"Well, let’s see," Wang Wei said as he took a bite at the dragon liver. This dish was a typical example of high-end cuisine in the cultivation world.

"What do you think?"

"The liver is from a fire dragon’s liver, but the chef used the blood of an ice dragon to make the sauce, using the concept of Yin-Yang to elevate the taste to a higher level."

"I knew you would understand," Cao Sicong said with a large grin.

"But I’ve had better."

"No way," Cao Sicong denied. Wang Wei tasted another dish, and this one was releasing a foul aura. He recognized the material was a devil creature called the Blood-horned Sheep. He took a bite and realized this dish was similar in concept to smelly tofu. While the unpleasant aroma immediately assaulted the senses, making the first bite experience slightly unpleasant, the intense flavors soon followed.

The food was indeed delicious, but as before, Wang Wei had better, and he was not shy about verbalizing this. For the next thirty minutes, he tasted every dish on this table; he would then comment on what made them unique before finishing with the words: I had better.

By the third comment, Cao Sicong’s smile — which seems to be always plastered on his face — was gone. By the tenth coming, the Primal was fighting internally within himself not to lash out. "What’s the meaning of this? Did you come here to insult me?"

"It seems Lord Cao is not convinced," Wang Wei smiled. "How about I prove it to you?" He waved his hand to replace the feast on the table with the dishes from his future wife.

Cao Sicong looked at the table with immense skepticism. He condensed a pair of eating utensils before tasting the first dish, which he had intentionally chosen as Wang Wei’s version of the Dragon Liver.

"Heaven," Cao Sicong groaned unconditionally. "The taste is so concentrated." His hand did not stop moving as he took bite after bite. "The chef combined the subtle taste of five dragon livers, and each focused on the five elements. No, there is something more to the taste.

"The liver is the element associated with wood. The chef artificially created or transformed the livers of other dragons into the other four elements before combining them with a natural wood element liver, achieving the perfect balance of the elements and taste.

"Who made this?"

Cao Sicong did not give Wang Wei time to answer as he tried every meal on the table. The man ate with a fever and passion. As he ate the last bite of food, Cao Sicong sighed deeply. "Here, I thought I had enjoyed the pinnacle of the Culinary Dao, but I was nothing but a frog in a well."

He looked at Wang Wei directly. "I’ll be honest. I’m willing to pay as much as one cloud merit for access to your chef."

"I’m afraid that even if you paid ten times the price, she would not be willing to share her food with you," Wang Wei shrugged.

"She?" Cao Sicong said with squinting eyes. He thought of a certain rumor and figured some things out. He sighed dejectedly before looking down at the empty table. "I think I may have to fire my chefs after I return. No, these are talented people. Maybe I should share this spiritual meal with them and use the shame to motivate them to improve."

He waved his hand to dissipate the feast, leaving only two bowls and a gourd of wine. Cao Sicong poured both cups. "This is one of the best wines I’ve had. I would ask you to show me yours, but since I know I can’t have the real thing, I’m going to restrain myself."

"So, it’s finally time to talk business," Wang Wei smiled. He savored the wine. He had to admit Cao Sicong had taste.

"What exactly do you want? No, I should ask what your sect wants with me?" Cao Sicong asked calmly.

"Have you heard about Ying Zheng’s transcendence path?"

"I have."

"Really."

"Although our dynasty alliance does not have the best shadow department, we leave a good part of our budget to buy information," Cao Sicong explained. "So, we know about how the Qin Court treated that woman called Hong Wa and the meaning of her existence to them."

"That makes things easier," Wang Wei nodded. "Are you interested in fighting with him over that path?"

NovelBin

Cao Sicong squinted his eyes. He understood the Dao Opening sect’s purpose.

"Right now, your main spirit should be in a meeting with Saint Maitreya to sort out all the issues for this proposition to pass. In other words, it’s only a matter of time before Ying Zheng has his way. Our sect, or any other Overlords, cannot allow him to build such momentum without humbling him."

Cao Sicong chuckled. This was not the first time any Overlords had used him to "humble" the Human Emperor and the Qin Court. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

"We will invest in you in two ways," Wang Wei continued. "First, we will loan you a Human Emperor Title on par with Ying Zheng. Of course, you still have to pay a handsome price even for this loan."

"Wait, are you serious?"

"Do you think we would joke about something like that?"

"But where would you get..." — Cao Sicong slapped his leg — "The advisors said it was odd you did not receive any benefit for everything you’ve done. It must have been done quietly."

"Something, it’s better to operate silently."

"True," Cao Sicong nodded. "So, what are the other investments?"

"We will offer you our deduction on how to use the Human Position to enter the Soul Quintessence Realm."

Cao Sicong put his drink on the table before sitting upright. He looked Wang Wei in the eyes, trying to find any anomalies. But the latter remained calm and composed.

"Lastly, I will convince the Barbarian Race to support you for one of the Emperor Positions."

Cao Sicong’s heart skipped a beat. His true self was in the middle of arguing with the other Primal Lineages because no one wanted to back down on such an opportunity. But if the Barbarian Race can support the dynasty alliance, the position will be his.

"What do you want me to pay?" Cao Sicong asked.

"I’m glad you asked," Wang Wei said as he placed an Existence Contract in front of him. Cao Sicong took a deep breath before reading the content. He immediately winced after seeing the price for just loaning the Human Emperor Title.

He winced a second time after seeing the price for the idea. "It’s just an idea — why is it so expensive?"

"You can remove the clause if you want."

"I don’t mean that, but you could lower the price," Cao Sicong complained. However, he knew nothing would change after seeing Wang Wei’s smile. He had seen such an expression in countless greedy financial advisers in charge of the alliance’s treasury.

"Alright," Cao Sicong sighed before continuing to read. "Hmm? You want me to loan you the Heavenly Emperor Title?"

"We will try removing Ying Zheng from his position and supporting someone else. If that happens, you will loan us the title for a period," Wang Wei said. He only placed this clause in the contract so that he could have the title as an achievement for his Foundation Pillar. But in truth, Wang Wei did not have much hope.

The only way to remove Ying Zheng from his position is to kill him, but with the latter’s strength and protection from the pendant, that is not something that can be easily achieved.

’There definitely is something more behind this request,’ Cao Sicong thought, but he did not ask. The rest of the contract was normal except for the last cause.

"What do you mean I must carry with me a special talisman at all times?"

"Our sect’s goal is obvious: lure Ying Zheng to attack you," Wang Wei said directly. "Unfortunately, we suspect he has acquired something from the ultimate taboo that makes him dangerous. We need precautions in case he uses it to sneak attack you."

"Something from the taboo? You don’t mean —"

"It’s only a suspicion for now."

"Is that why he’s been acting a little bit cocky?" Cao Sicong muttered to himself. He lowered his head to look at the contract. It was very enticing. However, the price he will have to pay — including being monitored — was unacceptable.

"Time is running out," Wang Wei said. "I suggest you take a deep look at yourself. Then, compare the amount of money you will have to use in the exchange list on your own for a chance at sanctification and the amount you’ll pay for this contract."

The prices were not exuberant because of his greed. He selected the prices based on things he expects most people would buy from the exchange list.